Prevalence of hand dermatoses among Finnish farmers.

Abstract

SUSITAIVAL P, HUSMAN L, HORSMANHEIMO M, NOTKOLA V, HUSMAN K. Prevalence of hand dermatoses among Finnish farmers. Scand J Work Environ Health 1994;20:206-12. OBJECTIVES -The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hand dermatosis among farmers. METHODS -A questionnaire survey was carried out in a geographically defined sample of the Finnish farming population between the ages of 18 and 64 years (N = 10 847). RESULTS -The one-year prevalence of self-reported hand and forearm dermatoses was 16% for the women and 7% for the men. These figures were similar to the prevalence of hand eczema in two large Scandinavian questionnaire surveys. The highest one-year prevalence of hand dermatoses was found for women on farms with more than nine dairy cows (20%). Atopy (both the personal history of atopic dermatitis and respiratory atopy), female gender, and, among the women, also age under 35 years were the most important risk factors for the occurrence of hand dermatosis. Work-related risk factors were handling disinfectants daily, handling silage preservatives, milking cows, and machine servicing. CONCLUSIONS -Occupationalrisk factors for hand dermatoses were found, especially for dairy farming. The results may be useful for the prevention of hand dermatoses in farming since they direct attention to related occupational hazards, and they may also aid vocational guidance for the atopic population. In order to lower the prevalence of hand dermatoses in dairy farming, both preventive and protective measures should become everyday practice in farming work.

Dermatoses determined in a population of farmers in questionnaire-based clinical study including methodology validation

“…In December 1979 a questionnaire regarding health and w o k was sent to a population of Finnish farmers including all registered farmers between the ages of 18 and 64 years in two municipalities (A and B) (14). Most of the farmers in these two inunicipalities were involved in dairy farlning.…”

Self‐reported dermatitis and skin cancer in California farm operators

“…Skin rashes or irritation within the past 3 months were more often reported by California grape (52%) than tomato (19%) workers, but the prevalence of eczematous skin conditions on physical examination (10%) was similar in the groups [McCurdy et al, 1989]. In a study of Finnish farmers, (mainly dairy), the 12-month prevalence of dermatoses was 29% in women and 23% in men [Susitaival et al, 1994]. In the same study, a history of hand eczema was found in 42% of all those reporting dermatoses [Susitaival et al, 1995].…”

Contact Allergy in Agricultural Workers

“…All subjects were patch tested with the allergen set specified in table 1. Some were additionally patch tested with the rubber and/or fragrance allergen sets.…”

“…It is estimated that in Finland the 1-year prevalence of selfreported hand and forearm dermatoses was 16% for the women and 7% for the men [1]. Most of the symptoms are due to contact with chemical agents [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”